Editing Pakistan Armed Forces (section)

===China===
{{Main|China–Pakistan relations}}
China's relationship with Pakistan holds great importance for both countries in terms of common interest and geopolitical strategy. The alliance was initially formed to counter the regional influence and military threat posed by India and the Soviet Union. In recent years, with the strategic cooperation [[India–United States relations|between the United States and India]] has deepened further, China and Pakistan have signed several military cooperation agreements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=China and Pakistan ink military MOU to counter US-India pact |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/China-and-Pakistan-ink-military-MOU-to-counter-US-India-pact |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}}</ref>
[[File:Pakistan Air Force Chengdu JF-17 Gu.jpg|thumb|right|A PAC JF-17 taking off from [[Zhuhai Jinwan Airport]], China]]

China has been a steady source of [[military equipment]] and has cooperated with Pakistan in setting-up weapons production and modernisation facilities. The two countries are actively involved in several joint projects to enhance each other's military needs, including development and production of the [[JF-17 Thunder]] fighter jet, the [[Hongdu JL-8|K-8 Karakorum]] advanced training aircraft, the [[Al-Khalid tank]], [[airborne early warning and control]] (AEW&C) systems, and many other projects. The two countries have held several joint military exercises to enhance co-operation between their armed forces.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-11 |title=China and Pakistan launch naval drills aimed at countering US strategy |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3184897/china-and-pakistan-launch-naval-drills-aimed-countering-us-indo |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> A 2023 report by the [[United States Institute of Peace]] argues that China and Pakistan's military relationship has "advanced from an episodic partnership to a threshold alliance", Pakistan "increasingly sourced from China, especially the higher-end combat strike and power projection capabilities; and Pakistan continues to retire older U.S. and European origin platforms". But both sides need to do more to make this threshold relationship a full-fledged ally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iqbal |first=Anwar |date=2023-03-28 |title=Beijing's opponents 'may not allow' alliance with Pakistan |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1744608 |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>